1. Almost every theory of crime causation is based on official data such as the UCR. Explain in class why using official data to base theories of crime is problematic. Organize your answer around these two concepts; law reflects the values of the law makers and that official statistics reflect the values of the law enforcers. Also, within your answer critique the argument that our criminal statutes correlate highly with Christian moral definitions of rights and wrongs. It was argued that crime is a social concept which must be placed in its political, economic and social context--explain.

2. It could be argued that whites who support the death penalty do so because they believe in retribution; an eye for an eye. Yet, is it not possible that other factors may be operating in the background that are related to why whites are substantially more likely to be punitive than African Americans? Discuss what these factors may be? Include a discussion of whether individual self-interest, particularly as measured by social class and prior victimization, is a substantial predictor of public opinion. Carefully construct the argument why group identity (define-give examples) appears to be so crucial when individuals form their public opinion about punitive correctional policies. How is group identity related to racial resentment? In your answer include a discussion that explains how "Jim Crow" racism (define) has weakened while "symbolic racism" or "racial resentment" (define-give examples) has increased in importance in explaining public opinion in America. What is the most robust and consistent predictor of why whites are more likely to support the death penalty? Are individual's opinions about capital punishment influenced by their immediate context? How do aggregate influences shape public opinion about the death penalty?

3. Define each index crime. Differentiate between violent and property crimes. Is rape a sex crime or a violent crime-explain? You can gain an insightful understanding of the nature of American society by studying the history of our rape laws--explain. Is female criminality increasing or decreasing? Why is this of particular theoretical interest to criminologists? Include in your answer a comparison to blacks. Define a statistical minority, a sociological minority, and oppression. What do all white males have in common? What do all minorities have in common? If females are a minority why do they commit less crime than their proportion of the population?

4. Is arson a property or violent crime? Why is it difficult to find a deterrent effect associated with the use of the death penalty? What type of criminal offender has the lowest recidivism rate? Define the concept of retribution-what is its moral base? It has been argued that the use of the death penalty may actually increase the rate of homicide-explain.

5. Discuss what the National Crime Survey is and why it was created. Is it a better indicator of the true amount of crime than the UCR? Are there any other methodological means of collecting data on the real incidence of crime in the US? Why do people report or not report crime to the police? Also discuss the concept of victimization rates and clearance rates.

6. What is a professional criminal? Is a professional criminal a career criminal? What is a career criminal? Why is it so difficult for criminologists to accurately predict crime? Do structural opportunities (define this concept) in and of themselves cause individuals to engage in crime? What is a career criminal? How was the profile of the career criminal created? Has the concept of a career criminal influenced present criminal justice policies? Discuss the numerous problems associated with the use of the concept of the career criminal, particularly in their institutionalization within criminal justice policy decision-making.

8. It can be argued that more police patrolling in cars will not substantially lower the crime rate-why? Include in your answer the nature of the relationship between many offenders and victims. Give estimates for the relationship between the victim and the offender for each of the index crimes. How could you, potentially, more efficiently employ your police resources? In your answer include the concepts of individual and community empowerment. Why are these concepts a contradiction in the context of American capitalist democracy?